Simon was diagnosed with cancer of the bowel aged 45, after a year of doctor’s appointments. With huge thanks to two wonderful consultants and their teams, our friends and family, our churches and colleagues, he is here to tell his story. As we waited from diagnosis to prognosis, there was no wake-up call about never knowing how long we’ve got or about what’s important in life. We’ve lived with understanding both those things all of our adult lives. There was only severe and overwhelming shock and grief that our life together as a family could be over …..

…..For those that are diagnosed too late for their lives to be saved, I keep thinking if love could have saved you, you’d have lived forever. Every life is so precious and we can do so much more to save people from losing a partner, a mummy, a daddy, a child, a friend, a relative. They say kindness is love with its work boots on and I am convinced fundraising is one thing we can do to change things. Bowel Cancer UK gave us much needed information to navigate a brave new world. Cancer Research UK and MacMillan Cancer Support too. I am convinced their work will save so many more people's lives with your help.

“People under 50 can find it harder to get a diagnosis through referral by their GP, with one in four being diagnosed as an emergency, compared to one in seven in over 50s. Delays in being referred for crucial and potentially lifesaving tests lead to younger people being diagnosed at a later stage when their chance of survival is worse. One in four bowel cancer patients under 50 are diagnosed at the latest stage in comparison to one in five in those over 50. Four in ten under fifties saw their GP three or more times about their symptoms before being referred for tests.

Bowel cancer is the second biggest cancer killer, with over 16,000 dying each year, but it doesn’t have to be. This cancer is treatable and curable, especially when diagnosed early. The UK Government has promised that in the next 10 years three out of four cancers will be diagnosed at an early, more treatable stage. But right now the UK’s cancer survival rates are lagging behind comparable countries meaning people affected by bowel cancer are not receiving the best treatment and care.

What are Bowel Cancer UK calling for in their never too young campaign?

•    Improved awareness in the general public and for medical professionals on the symptoms of bowel cancer, and that it can affect people under the age of 50
•    Younger people going to their GP with symptoms of bowel cancer should be referred for further tests without unnecessary delays
•    Younger patients with bowel cancer should have treatment, care and support tailored to their needs
•    All younger bowel cancer patients should be tested for Lynch syndrome as soon as they are diagnosed and receive the appropriate surveillance colonoscopies
•    Challenges in the healthcare system amplified by COVID-19, such as endoscopy capacity, must be addressed urgently to prevent further barriers to diagnosis for younger people.”

"I'm taking part in Step up for 30 to raise money for Bowel Cancer UK. They're the UK's leading bowel cancer charity and are determined to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer. Bowel cancer is the UK's second biggest cancer killer with more than 16,500 people dying annually of a disease that is preventable, treatable and curable. I'm determined to help Bowel Cancer UK to change that. The money you donate will help to provide support and information to patients and their families, enable them to fund and support research into bowel cancer and to campaign for early diagnosis and best treatment and care for all."